galangal

/ɡəˈlæŋɡəl/

Etymology

From Middle English galyngale, from Old French galingal, from Arabic خَلَنْجَان (ḵalanjān), from Persian قولنجان (qulenjân, qulanjân), from Sanskrit कुलञ्जन (kulañjana), perhaps from Chinese 高良薑／高良姜 (gāoliángjiāng), from 高涼 /高凉 (Gāoliáng) (a prefecture or county in China) + 薑 /姜 (jiāng, “ginger”).

galangal means any of several east Asian plants of genera Alpinia and Kaempferia in the ginger family, used as a spice, but principally Alpinia galanga. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.

galangal is pronounced /ɡəˈlæŋɡəl/.

noun

Any of several east Asian plants of genera Alpinia and Kaempferia in the ginger family, used as a spice, but principally Alpinia galanga.“The refreshing aroma of galangal acts in combination with and as a contrast to lemongrass in many recipes in this book.”